Submarine war vessel



Sept. 11, 1923.

K. DO UGAN SUBMARINE W AR VESSEL Filed April 1917 4'Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 11,1923; 1.467.611

K. DOUGAN SUBMARINE WAR VISSBL Filed April 28. 1917 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 11, 1923.

. 1,467,611 K. DOUGAN SUBMARINE WAR VESSEL Filed April 28- 1917 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I i mum-m i al Sept. 11, I923. 1,467.6li

K. DOUGAN SUBMARINE WAR VESSEL Filed April 2 1.1917 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l I I I 7 l I] %6 I z 7 I //5 N5 ff W" Patented Sept. 11, 1923.

UNlTED STATES KENNEDY DOUGAN, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

SUBMARINE WAR VESSEL.

Application filed April 28, 1917.

To all 1071 m it may 9011 rem Be it known that I. KnXNnnY DUUGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submarine War Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to submarine war vessels of the type shown and described in my applications, Ser. No. 32,827, filed June 8, 1915, Ser. No. 34,989, filed June 19, 1915, Ser. No. 116,406, filed August 21, 1916, and Ser. No. 138,526, filed December 23, 1916.

My invention relates to means for carrying large guns on submarines. and for training the same, and consists, first, in means adapted to enable the gunner to t-raiuthe gun when he is located in a casemate secured to the gun barrel; second, means for removing a disabled gunner from the oasemate on the gun barrel and placing another therein while submarine and gun are below the surface of the water; third, means for manipulating the gun from the interior of the submarine when a gunner is disabled; fourth. means for raising the gun above the surface of the water and training and firing it from below deck; fifth, means of cone munication between a. gunner in the casemate secured to the gun, and an assistant below deck; and sixth, means adapted to enable the gunner when above the surface to bring the gun in alignment with the horizontal axis of the vessel when below the surface.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a submarine equipped with one recoilless gun and shows the gun raised above the eel and. elevated into possible firing position. The broken lines show the lmvered position of the gun. Fig. 2 is :1 plan view of a portion of the vessel with the gnu removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the vessel on the line l-G. Fig. 1. with the gun removed. Figs. 1 and 5 respectively are plan and side elevation of an indicating device the function of which will be explained later. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the longitudinal axis of the vessel. and gun-raising and elevating mechanism and adjacent parts. only enough of the vessel being shown or the purpose. The central portion of the gun 5 is shown in elevation. Fig. 7 is a horizontal Serial No. 165,264.

section of parts shown in Fig. 6, taken on the line BB. Fig. 8 is a bottom view of parts located immediately below the parts shown in Fig. 7. Figs. 9 and 10 are a bottom view and vertical cross section of a manheadl .Figs. 11 and 12 are plan view and side elevation respectively, of a device to be used for removing the manhead. Fig. 13 is a vertical cross section on the line D-D, Fig. 14-, of a portion of the upper part of the vessel and gun and elevating mechanism with some of the parts shown in elevation, looking toward the left. Fig. 1.4 is aplan view of a portion of the gun and docket the vessel, part of the gun and gunners casemate being broken. away. Fig. 15 is a vertical cross section through the gun and gunners casen'iate on the line EE looking toward the left. Fig. 16 is a front elevation of parts shown in Fig. 6. Figure 16 is a horizontal section taken on the line T-T, Figure 13, looking down; Figure 16 is a vertical section of the upper end of cylinder 27 and adjacent parts taken at right angles to the section through the crosshead in Figure 6; Figure l6 is a plan v ew of the parts shown in l igure 16; Figure 16" is a section taken through the center of the worm gear shaft used for training the gun horizontally; Figure 16 is a transverse section of the shaft shown in Figure 16 and Figure 16 is an enlarged detail of the central telescoping shaft. Fig. '17 is a horizontal section on the line l -P Figure 6. Fig. 18 is a plan View of a card compass shown in side elevation in Fig. 16. Fig. 19 is a horizontal section on the line AA Fig. 6. Fig. 26 is a vertical central section of the lower end of the hydraulic cylinders 4 and 16 shown in Fig. 6. showing hydraulic connections. Fig, 21 shows the form of controlling valves used in Fig. 26. Fig. 22 is a. side elevation of a part of [he miniature gun operating incchauisn'i. and Fig. 23 is a horizontal section of Fig. 22 on the line .l-J. Figs. 2i. 2! and 26 are enlarged views of valve control mechanism located in the ('flSPll'lfltQ. l igurc 27 is an enlarged horizontal section of Figurev 6. taken on the line ri -A with the miniature gun operating mechanism: omitted. Figure 28 is a diagrammatic View of a device for firing the gun and adapted to ordinarily prevent the firing of the gun when such firing would damage the vessel. In this figure the cylinder 97 is mounted on. a fixed part of: the. vessel and it is in hydraulic connection with; the hydraulic elevating system. The weight. 99 is raised and lowered hydraulically witln the motion of-the elevating gun and car-- ries a rod 105 and the thin copper cylinder 106 encircles the cylinder 6 and is rigidly secured thereto, but electrically insulated. therefrom and wire No. 106 leads from the explosive chamber through a tiring switch. in the gunners casemate.

For raising the gun, water under pressure is admitted to the l'iydraulic cylinder and, lifts the gun. The volume of this stream. of water is constant and is not under the control of the gunner in the caseinate, but he controls the raising of the gun by regu lating the amount of water that is allowed. to flow out of the hydraulic cylinder.

In the drawings 1 is the vessel, 2 the gun 3 the gun trunnions which are carried by the. upper end of cylinder 4. Loosely hung upon. cylinder t is a protective cylinder 5, upon, the lower end of which is loosely hung pro-- tective cylinder 6. These cylinders are car-- ried up by cylinder 4 and their function is to protect the working portion of cylinder 1 from small projectiles. Cylinder 6 telescopes: on cylinder 5, and 5 on 4;. 7 is a device for indicating to the gunner the longitudinal axis of the vessel when he is above waterand the vessel below water. The dotted line shows it in its down position. This device is. more fully shown in Figs. 4 and f, in which- 8 is a motor 9 a worm secured to the shaft. of said motor and meshing with gear 10 which is secured to shaft 11 journaled in. bearings 12 secured to the vertical sides 13. This device is operated from below deck by an assistant gunner. Rotating the motor 8- in one direction raises arm 7 toward a vertical position and reversing the motor brings it into horizontal position.

A portion of the vessel shown in Fig. 2, 14 being the deck and 15 a depression or trough of such dimensions as to receive the gun. In Fig. 6. 1.6 is a hydraulic cylinder in which gun-carrying cylinder l; reciprw cates. For the purpose of raising the gun to or lowering it from firing position. it is trunnioned in the upper end of c -qliin'ler i; which is rcciprocable in stationary cylinder 16 the upper end of which is open. Formed integral with cylinder 4: is head 18. The outer diameter of cylinder 4. except near its lower end, is somewhat smaller than the internal diameter of cylinder 16 whi;h is formed with inturuing annular flanges 19 and 20 snugly fitting cylinder 4;. and cylinder 4 has formed upon its lower end an outwardly turned annular flange 21 which is provided with conventional packing rings. Rigidly secured to head 17 is cylinder 22 which is provided with interior longitudinal grooves 23,, and has formed at its upper end a head 24 which is provided with a packing rinrr Slidable in grooves 23 are the lugs 26 formed on the lower end of hollow rod 27 on the upper end of which is formed a flange .29 which is rotatable in crosshead 28 as shown. (See Fig. 16

31 is a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in the lower end of cylinder 16. The upper endof this shaft is indicated by broken lines in Fig. 6 and is clearly shown in Fig. 16 Shaft 31 being smaller than the interior of shaft 27 there is formed between the two an annular space 32, and in the exterior surface of shaft 31 there is formed a spiral groove which extends from near, its lower to its upper end, and makes a complete circuit of the shaft. Hollow shaft 27 is provided with a pin 34 which extends into spiral groove 33. 35 is a bevel gear rigidlv secul 'ed to shaft 31. Extending vertically through the center of shaft 31 is a shaft 36 which telescopes in a shaft 36 which is rigidly secured fincrosshead 28 (see Figures 16 and 16 The upper end of shaft 36 is provided with outwardly extending jaws which slide in vertical grooves in shaft 36. These grooves extend the full length of said shaft. The lower end of shaft 36 carries a miter sear rigidly secured thereto. 38 is a u ater inlet or outlet port connecting the interior of cylinder 16 with a source of water under pressure or with a. water-receiving tank. 38 is a miter gear meshing with gear 37 and 'igdly secured to shaft which shatt passes i'hrough and is rotatable in the hub of bevel wheel 40 and miter wheel el. 422 is a journal box in which rotates as an axle the hubs of wheels 46 and 4-1. Gear 41) meshes with 35, and gear 41-1 with miter gear 42' which is rigidly secured to cvlinder -i-3 which is rotatable in brackets 41a: and 15. The upper end of cylinder 13 is provided with a groove in which fits a flange 46 termed on the lower side of bracket lat. The upper end of cylinder 4.3 is contracted and forms a nut which is threaded to receive a thread formed on hollow shaft 417. 413 is a miter gear rigidly secured to shaft 39. and -3t9 is a siuiilnr gear rigidly secured. to the lower end of sha't't 50 the upper end of which rotates in disk 51 which is provided with a downward ly turned portion by which it is secured to cylinder 16.

52 is a miniature gun rigidly secured in thebiiliurcated end of shaft 50 and is provided with a pointer 53 iaving its lower end close to disk 5]. 54 designates as a whole a compass carried in the bifurcated end of shaft 50. digidly secured to the upper side of bracket 1-1 is a pointer 55. The hollow shaft 1 7 is provided with a graduated scale disposed vertically near its upper end for a purpose that will be explained later. 56 is a pm secured in bracket 14- and extends into a groove in hollow shaft 47, said groove being parallel with the horizontal axis of said shaft. The operation of the parts described is as follows:

lVhen water under pressure is admitted to cylinder 16 through port 38, cylinder et moves upward and through means not yet explained, carries hollow rod 27 up with it, and rotates hollow shaft 31 by means of pin 34 in the spiral groove 32 in shaft 31. Gear 35 rotates with shaft 31 and by means of the gears 40, 41 and 12 rotates cylinder i3 which by means of the'described screw action, raises shaft 47, said shaft 47 being prevented from rotating by pin 56 working in the described slot in shaft 47. The relative position of pointer 55 and the graduation marks on shaft 47 indicate the height to whichthe gun is raised or lowered.

The function of the small miter wheels 37 and 38, shafts 39', 3 6, 36' and wheels 48, i9, shaft 50, disk 51 and pointer 53 is to indicate the relative position of the horizontal axis of the gun and vessel. The action is as follows:

Since the upper end of rod 36 is rigidly secured in crosshead 28 and gear 37 rigidly secured to the lower end of rod 36 the mechanism described will communicate to the miniature gun 52 all the horizontal motions of the gun, because crosshead 28 is carried around by cylinder 4 which carries the gun.

The means for lifting thegun bodily has been described; the means for elevating it consist of two links 57 having their upper ends pivotally connected by pivots 57 to the gun as shown in Figs. 6, l and 14'. In Fig. 14 the upper end of one of these links is shown and the other is shown broken off near its lower ends. The lower ends of these links are pivotallyconnected to cross head 28 as clearly shown in Fig. 13. Formed integral with crosshead 28 are portions 58 which slide vertically in grooves 59 formed in cylinder 4. The operation is as follows:

lVhen the gun is raised to such a height that the outwardly turned portion 26 of the lower end of hollow cylinder 27 strikes the inwardly turned portion of the upper end of cylinder 22. hollow cylinder 27 can not ascend farther which stops the ascent of crosshead 28. links 57 and the portion of the gun to which. links 57 are pivoted. and as cylinder 4 continues to ascend the muzzle end of the gun which is held down only by gravity, is elevated, since the gun which is carried in sleeve 60 which is shrunk on the gun and provided with trunnions 3 journalled in cylinder 4. continues to rise.

The mechanism for training the gun horizontally consists of two hydraulic motors 61 and 62 rigidly secured to shaft 63. to which is rigidly secured worm 64 which drives gear 65'which is frictionally held from turning on, shaft 66 by means of disks 67 and 68. leaf springs 69 and set screws 70. Disks 67 and 68 are rigidly secured to shaft 66. Set screws 70 are screwed down on the springs 69 until the required driving tension is reached. (See Fig. 1.6".)

Rigidly secured to the lower end of shaft 66 is pinion 71 which meshes with gear 72 which is rigidly secured to hollow cylinder 27. The hydraulic motors are water wheels of the well known Pelton type, and motor 62 has at least double the power of motor 61. Vater to motor 61 is supplied through pipe 73 from the water inside of cylinder 4 which pipe 73 is rigidly secured in crosshead 28 and reciprocates through a snugly fitting hole in head 18. ater from motor 61 discharges uncontrolled into water in open communication with the ocean. Motor 62 is supplied in a similar manner through pipe 74. This is shown in Fig, 6. The speed and direction of these motors are regulated by regulating the discharge of water from motor 62. The discharge from motor 61 is always open and is not under control of the operator. The means for controlling motor 62 consists of a flexible discharge pipe 75 leading from the motor through a manually operable valve 78 inside the casemate 77 and discharging through the floor thereof. An air valve 190 is provided for ventilating the casemate when above the surface. 79 is a butterfly valve in pipe 76 and is controlled by lever 80. (See Fig. The operation is as follows:

ater under pressure is supplied to the interior of cylinder 16 more rapidly than it will flow out through both motors when the discharge of the large motor is wide open: closing valve 76 shuts oll the discharge of water from motor 62 thereby rendering it powerless; motor 61 which is made to run in the opposite direction turns the large n1otor backward, and through the means described rotates cylinder 4 which carries the gun with it. To stop the rotation of cylinder 4t and rotate it in the opposite direction, valve 78 is opened permitting the discharge of water tliercthrough from motor 62 which having double the power of motor 61v runs it backward and turns cylinder 4 in the opposite direction. T1 is obvious lhatth-c speed at which cylinder 4; will rotate in either direction will depend upon the position of valve 78. The means by which the gunner controls the raising and the elevation of the gun consists of pipe 76 and butterfly valve 79 which is controllable manually by lever 80. Pipe 76 is flexible between the point where it enters casemate 77 and. head 18 of cylinder l. The operation is as follows:

Closing valve 79 prevents the escape of water therethrough from cylinder 16 and the increased pressure due to an increase in the quantity of water in cylinder 16 forces cylinder 4 up. Opening valve 79 lets water escape from cylinder 16 and this together with what is constantly escaping through motor 61 is greater in quantity than What enters and cylinder l descends. It is obvious that the position of valve 79 will determine the velocity with which cylinder a will ascend or descend. The gunner will control valve 78 with his left hand and valve 79 with his right by means of lever 80. It is obvious that were cylinder 1 being rotated in one direction and the motor shai't 63 suddenly reversed. that the momentum of the gun would wreck the gearing, as the worm drive is not adapted to transmit motion from the gear through the worm. It is to prevent destruction of the gear that gear 65 is held l rictionally as described. Cylinder 4 is provided with a hydraulically operable brake near its lower end. This brake consists of a cylinder 84:, piston 85, piston rod 86. brake 87, discharge pipe 88, partition 89 and leak hole 90. Discharge pipe 88 is rigidly secured in head 18. A few feet of this pipe immediately above head 28 is flexihis and the upper end passes through and discharges outside casemate 77 and the discharge is controlled by lever 88 which operates a butterfly valve 82 in pipe 88. The operation is as follows:

Nhen the gunner desires to bring the gun to rest quickly he opens valve 82 which allows water to escape from the right hand side of piston 85, and the excess pressure on the left side forces the bevelled end 93 of the piston rod between the bevelled ends 94 and 95 01? the brake ring 87 expanding it and causing friction sullicient to stop rotation of cylinder 4. The brake is released by closing valve 82. The leak hole 90 being always open, water for forcing the piston to. the left passes to the inside of the cylinder.

The area of this hole in proportion to that ol the pipe is such that no pressure suliicient to affect injuriously the pressure on the left side of the piston is possible. The position of valve 82 will determine the force 01" the brake. In practice the brake will always be applied before the motors are reversed.

Telephone comuuinication is provided between the interior of caseniate 77 and the interior of the vessel. 97 is a telephone secured to cylinder -16. and 98 is telephone secured to the side of the gun in casemate 77. 99 is an insulated electric cable connectingphones 97 and 98. Should the gunner in caseniate .77 be put out of commission while engaged in battle. there is means provided for bringing the gun into loading position removing the gunner from the casemate and placing another therein while the vessel is below the surface. The means for bringing the gun into leading position consists, in addition to the means hereinbefore described, of means for automatically closing the discharge from motor 62 and permitting an assistant gunner in the interior of the submarine to control the discharge of water from said motor 62. It will be noted that valves 79 and 82 are automatically drawn into closed position by springs 100 and 101. In opening these valves it is necessary to flex the springs and the springs close the valves the instant the gunner releases them, so should he be killed or rendered unconscious, the springs close both valves and the small motor begins to rotate cylinder 1 and water accumulating in cylinder 16 begins to elevate the gun. To stop the elevating of the gun, water is shut off from entering cylinder 16 through inlet 38. In order to check the rotation of cylinder 4:, water is permitted to discharge from motor (32 through crosshead 28, annular space 32 and port 102. This will be understood by reference to 6, in which 103 is a branch pipe from pipe 75. Pipe 103 discharges into conduit 10 1- in crosshead 28 which conduit is in open communication with annular space 32. the lower end of which is in open communication with discharge opening 102, pipe 105 and valve 106 which is manually operable by lever 107, (see Figs. 20 and 21 in which valve 106 is shown diagrammatically). is carried in quantity and at pressure suflieient to operate all the mechanism described. /Vater is delivered from tank 108 through pipe 109 to the left side of valve 106 and to the right side of valve 110 which is operable by lever 111. 112 is a water receiver into which waste water is discharged through pipe 113. The operation is as follows:

.iissuiuing the discharge from motor 62 to be shut, through the closing of valve 78, by the action 01 spring 100; the assistant gun ner inside the vessel wishing to bring the gun into loading position. notes both its vertical and horizontal position by the position of the miniature gun 52. If cylinder 41 is being rotated in the required direction, the rotation is permitted to continue until the gun is nearly parallel with the vessel. The large motor 62 is then started by throwing lever 107 to the right to an angle 0t 4115 degrees which allows water to discharge from cylinder 10 through motor (32. pipe 102, conduit 104:, annular passage 32. pipe 105, valve 106 and, pipe 113. to tank 112. enabling the gunner to bring the gun to a stop when its longitudinal a. 's is in alignment with the longitudinal LUIS oi the vessel. To lower the gun to loading position, lever 111 is thrown to the left to an angle of a5 degrees which permits water to flow from the interior of cylinder 16 through pipe 114: valve 110. pipes 115 and 113 to tank 1.12. It is obvious that the velocity at which the gun will descend will depend upon the position of valve 110, and that the velocity at which cylinder a will rotate in either direction will depend upon the excess of power in either 108 is a receiver in which water.

motor and that that, will depend upon the position of valve 106.

' In case of the sudden death of the gunner in casemate 77. he might grip the lever controlling valve 78 and Continue to hold said valve open which would deprive the assistant below deck of means for controlling the rotation of cylinder 4. In order that he may not be deprived of such control, an auxiliary closing device is provided for closing valve 78 at stated intervals should the gunner-fail to perform certain duties. This device consists of an arm carried by a rotating disk which will strike the lever controlling valve 78 and close the valve unless the gunner throws said rotating arm to one side once during each rotation of the disk. The disk is'rotated by the water discharging through pipes and 76 or through either. This device is shown in Figs. 6, 24, 25 and 26, Fig. 24 being a top or plan View, Fig. 25 a side elevation, and Fig. 26 an end elevation looking toward the right. 116 is a motor that will be caused to rotate by the passage of water through pipe 75, and 117 is a motor thatwill be caused to rotate by the passage of water through pipe 76; Both motors are secured rigidly to shaft 118 to which is rigidly secured worm 119 engaging gear 120 on shaft 121 to which is rigidly secured pinion 122 which meshes with: gear 123 on shaft 124 to which is rigidly secured pinion 125 which meshes with gear 126 rigidly secured to shaft 127. 128 is a hole formed in gear 126 in which slides a frictionally held pin 129. Located side by side in pipes 75 and 76 are butterfly valves 130 and 131; both these valves are rigidly secured-to shaft 132, to which is rigidly secured valve operating lever 133; when in the position shown these valves are wide open. 134 is a deflector the function of which is to push pin 129 into the position shown in Fig. 26. Deflector 134 is rigidly secured to the housing of valves 130 and 131. The operation is as follows:

Gear 126 is rotated by motors 116 and 117 or either, in the direction of the arrow and when the pin is in the position shown in Fig. 26 will strike lever 133 and close valves 130 and 131. If, however. pin 129 is pulled through so that its path is to one side of le-- ver 133, valves 130 and 131 will not be closed. Immediately after passing lever 1.33 the outer end of pin 129 will strike the slanting side of deflector 134 and be pushed back into the position shown in Figsq24 and 26. The speed-reducing gearing will be such that gear 126 will make a rotation in a unit of time considered best adapted to the purpose for which it is designed. Should the gunner fail to pull the pin through after it passes the deflector 134, it will close valves 130 and 131 when it strikes lever 133.

The means for getting a gunner into or out of the casemate 7 when vessel and gun are below the surface, consists of,a man hole in the bottom of said casemate, a manhead. and power driven means for removing the manhead and drawing it down into the vessel with the gunner on it, and means to prevent the entrance of water to casemate or vessel during the operation. 135 is the manhole, (see Fig. 14) 136 the manhead, (see Figs. 6, 9 and 10). 137' is a piston fitting the interior of cylinder 138 and has an upwardly extending annular portion 130 formed integral therewith upon which manhead 136 rests when being elevated to the position shown. Piston 137 is reciproeated in cylinder 138 by means of nut 140, and screw 141 formed on shaft 142. Nut is rotatably carried in head 143, and is held in place by a flange 144 formed integral therewith and by the hub of gear wheel 145 which is rigidly secured to hub 140 as shown. The rotation of shaft 142 is prevented by means of a tongue 146 which extends into a keyseat 147 formed in shaft 142. This key-seat is shown in the lower portion of shaft 142, which is shown in section, and by a dotted line extending up as far as the thread extends. It is also shown in Fig. 7, Gear 145 is rotated by means of worm 148 which is rigidly secured to shaft 149 of motor 150.

It is obvious that rotating motor 150 in one direction will draw down piston 137 and that rotating said motor in the opposite direction will elevate said piston.

151 is a shaft extending through the center of shaft 142 and has formed integral with its upper end a three-pronged head 152. (See Figs. 10, 11 and 12.) Formed in the lower side of manhead 136 are three openings 153 somewhat larger than the three prongs 152 and which lead out from a central opening 154 and which register with prongs 152. 155 is a collar rigidly secured to shaft 151, and 156 is a hand lever secured to said collar. 155 is an opening in cylinder 138 through which a man may enter.

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-section of manhead 136 and shows a circular space 157 therein adapted to receive head 152. The operation is as follows:

Assuming the gun to be in the position shown and below the surface of the Water, and a man out of commission in casement 77; motor 150 is rotated in the proper direction, and by means of worm 149, gear 150, and nut 140 operating on screw 141 draws piston 137 and manhead 136 down until manhead 136 is below opening 155 The man is then removed, another man is placed on manhead 136, the motor reversed and the manhead screwed up into place. Head 152 is then brought into register with openings 153 in the manhead, by rotating shaft 151 by means of hand lever 156. Should the gun he raised now it will lift from head 152 and the manhead will of course remain in the bottom of the casemate. Manhead 136 is frictionally held. in casemate 77.

The means for raising and lowering cylinder 138 and the reason for doing so will now be explained:

157 and 158 are shafts with enlarged heads 159 which rotate in bearings 160 secured rigidly to the deck 1 1 of the vessel. The lower ends of these shafts are screwthreaded and engage threads formed in support 14:3. Rigidly secured to screw shaft 157 is a pinion 161 which engages gear 162, the axle of which is formed by cylinder 138. It will be noted that the teeth of gear 162 are long enough to admit of said gear coming down with cylinder 138 for some distance without gettin out of mesh with the teeth of pinion 161. Gear 162 is held from moving vertically on cylinder 138 by jaws 163, which are formed integral with or rigidly secured to cylinder 138. Secured rigidly to shaft 158 is a pinion 164 similar to pinion 161. This pinion rotates synchronously with pinion 161, and pinion 161 is rotated by worm 165 rigidly secured to shaft 166 of motor 167. (See Fig. 7.) For the purpose of steadying cylinder 138 near its lower end there is a plate 168 secured to deck 1 1 through which plate there is formed a circular opening through which cylinder 138 can move freely. This plate is supported near its outer end by a rod 169. Cylinder 138 is secured to support 143 by screws 170. F or the purpose of making a water-tight joint between the upper end of cylinder 13S and the bottom of casem ate 77 there is an annular channel formed in said upper end in which channel is carried resilient material 171, such as rubber. The upper surface of piston 137' is provided with a similar groove and resilient packing 172. A ring of packing 173 is secured to deck 14 adjacent cylinder 138. Were cylinder 138 left in the position shown there would be a continuous leak between cylinder 138 and deck 14. T o prevent this, motor 167 is operated which rotates the described mechanism and draws flange 17 1 down firmly on packing 173 which prevents leakage. Motor 150 is then operated to raise piston 137 and press resilient packing 172 so hard against the above adjacent flange 174 on the inside of cylinder 138 that leakage will be prevented there. The leakage around rod 151 will be negligible.

The gun 2, Figure 1, is shown conventionally as is also the loading means 2 as the t 3c of "an and means for loadin the un are not matters of special importance in this invention.

Any gun with means for submersed loading can be used in the present invention such as that shown and described in the patent to me No. 1,303,266, entitled Submarine artillery.

I claim: I

1. A vessel, a gun carried by said vessel, a hermetically sealed gunners casemate carried by said gun, and means controllable from said gunners casemate for raising said gun bodily.

2. A vessel, a gun carried by said vessel, a hermetically sealed gunners casemate carried by said gun, and means controllable from said gunners casemate for raising said gun bodily above said vessel.

3. A vessel, a gun carrier carried by said vessel, a gun carried by said gun carrier, a hermetically sealed casemate on said gun, a brake, and means controllable from said casemate for operating said brake.

4:. A vessel, a gun carried by said vessel, means for training said gun, a hermetically sealed casemate on said gun, and means distant from said gun for automatically indicating the relative position of said gun and said vessel.

5. A vessel, a gun carried by said vessel, a hermetically sealed casemate carried by said gun, means for reciprocating the gun vertically, said means being controllable from within said casemate.

(3. A vessel, a hydraulically rotatable ver tic-a1 cylinder mounted in said vessel, a gun carried by said cylinder, and means for raising said gun bodily.

7. A vessel, a hydraulically rotatable vertical cylinder mounted .in said vessel, a gun carried by said cylinder, means for raising said gun bodily and means for elevating said gun.

8. A vessel, a hydraulically rotatable and vertically movable cylinder rotatably mounted in said vessel, a gun carried by said cylinder, means for raising said gun bodily and means for training said gun horizontally.

9. A vessel, a vertical cylinder rotatably and reciprocably mounted in said vessel, hydraulic means for rotating and reciprocating said cylinder, and a gun trunnioned in the upper end of said cylinder.

10. A vessel, a vertical cylinder rotatably and reciprocably mounted in said vessel, by draulic means for rotating and reciprocating said cylinder, a gun trunnioned in the upper end of said cylinder, and means for training said gun.

11. A vessel, a vertical cylinder rotatably and reciprocably mounted in said vessel, means for rotating and reciprocating said cylinder, a gun trunnioned in the upper end of said cylinder, a hermetically sealed casemate on said gun, and means for controlling said rotating and reciprocating means from within said casemate.

12. A vessel, a vertical cylinder rotatably and reciprocably mounted in said vessel, means for rotating and reciprocating said cylinder, a gun trunnioned in the upper end of said cylinder, a hermetically sealed easemate on said gun, and means controllable from within said casemate for raising said gun.

13. A vessel, a vertical cylinder rotatably and reciprocably mounted in said vessel, means for rotating and reciprocating said cylinder, a gun trunnioned in the upper end of said cylinder, a hermetically sealed casemate on said gun, means controllable from within said casemate for raising said gun, and means for elevating said gun.

14. A vessel, a vertical cylinder rotatably and reciprocably mounted in said vessel, means for rotating and reciprocating said cylinder, a gun trunnioned in the upper end of said cylinder, and means controlled by the reciprocation of said cylinder for elevate ing said gun.

15. A vessel, a vertical cylinder rotatably and rec-iprocably mounted in said vessel, a gun mounted in said cylinder, the bore of said gun extending entirely therethrough and open to the atmosphere at both ends and means to automatically prevent firing of said gun when in a position to damage said vessel.

16. A vessel, a vertical cylinder rotatably and reciprocably mounted in said vessel, means for rotating and reciprocating said vertical cylinder, a gun trunnioned in the upper end of said cylinder, means for train ing and firing said gun and means for automatically indicating the relative position of said gun and said vessel to an observer to whom the gun is invisible.

17. A vessel, a vertical cylinder rotatably and reciprocably mounted in said vessel, means for rotating and reciprocating said vertical cylinder, a gun trunnioned in the upper end of said cylinder, means for training and firing said gun, toward any point of the compass by a person from whom the gun is obscured, and means for automatically indicating the relative position of said gun and said vessel to an observer to whom the gun is invisible.

18. A vessel, a vertical cylinder rotatably and reciprocably mounted in said vessel, means for rotating and reciprocating said vertical cylinder, a gun mounted in the upper end or said cylinder, a cascmate on said gun, means controllable from within. said casemate, for training and firing said gun, and separate means for controlling said gun should said means in said casemate fail to operate.

19. A vessel, a gun carried by said vessel. a gunners casemate on said gun, and means for indicating to a gunner in saidcaseinate the horizontal axis of said vessel when said casemate is above, and said vessel is below the surface of the water.

20. A vessel, a vertical cylinder reciprocably mounted in said vessel, a gun carried by said vertical cylinder, and a loosely fitting cylinder surrounding the upper portion of and carried by said cylinder, and designed to protect said vertically moving cylinder from projectiles.

21. A vessel, a vertical cylinder reciprocably mounted in said vessel, a gun carried by said vertical cylinder, and a loosely fitting cylinder, telescopically mounted on the upper portion of said vertically moving cylinder and adapted to protect said upper portion of said vertically moving cylinder from projectiles when the upper portion of said vertically reciprocable cylinder is raised above the surface of the water.

22. A vessel, a vertical cylinder reciprocably mounted in said vessel, a gun carried by said vertical cylinder, and a loosely fitting cylinder, telescopically mounted on the upper portion of said vertically moving cyl inder, a second loosely fitting cylinder, and a third loosely fitting cylinder carried by Said second mentioned loosely fitting cylinder.

23. A vessel, a vertically reciprocable cylinder mounted in said vessel, a gun carried by the upper porton of said cylinder, a nest of protective cylinders occupying the same horizontal plane, carried by saidwesscl, immediately beneath said gun, and surrounding said vertical cylinder, the inner or said protective cylinders adapted to be carried up by said vertical cylinders, and each protective cylinder adapted to lift the adjacent larger cylinder into a higher vertical plane.

Dated April th, 1917.

KENNEDY DOUGAN.

Vitnesses S. SHUFELDT, Fnnn GARDNER. 

